Mike Price

Not looking to be a professional, but I do take a lot of pictures for articles I write and just love taking pictures so I can make attractive picture devotionals. Thanks, any advice would ge appreciated.

scootersurfs Loc: Buckeye, Az

Jump up to the Canon 60D. Great upgrade, priced well right now, for new and refurbished and takes great pics and video. Take a look at my posts if you want to see what is possible. Good Luck!

CHG_CANON Loc: the Windy City

Mike - the chart at the bottom of this wiki page will give you a graphic layout of all the Canon digital models as well as the tech specs on all models. Look at your current lenses and consider if staying with lenses specific to Canon's cropped sensors is the way to go. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Comparison_of_Canon_EOS_digital_cameras

Swamp Gator Loc: Coastal South Carolina

What lenses do you have?
A new camera will only be a significant upgrade if you are using quality glass with it.

Mike Price

thanks for the links to read and the advice own cannon lenses but not high end stuff.

My kit lines with my 20D which is a low end lens took this picture yesterday morning.

http://i170.photobucket.com/albums/u245/mhsp68/fcb4e35f-eb61-4375-83d4-a7a40eedae7e_zps4512fb6e.jpg

I love my 20D but I do want more versatility and want to get a little more serious with my photos. Thanks for helping, it means a lot.

Blenheim Orange Loc: Michigan

Welcome to the forum Mike.

If it ain't broke, don't fix it. Stick with the 20D and work to improve your knowledge and skills. There is so much that can be done with just about any camera. When you start looking at equipment to improve your photos that will take away from working on improving your skills and learning. The simpler the equipment, the better. Then your attention can be on the subject and on composition.

Mike

SharpShooter Loc: NorCal

[quote=Mike Price
My kit lines with my 20D which is a low end lens.

I love my 20D but I do want more versatility and want to get a little more serious with my photos. Thanks for helping, it means a lot.[/quote]

Mike, welcome to the Hog.
Mike, I, like you, started my digital adventure with a used 20D and told myself I had to use it for one year before I could get anything else.
My progression was to a 5Dmkll. I would recommend that camera for a lot of reasons, and it's also FF, with more than twice the megapixels as your 20, and that alone will work wonders on your pics.
The "good news" is, there are lots of used ones now, and I've seen the prices as low as $1000. The "bad news" is, that I've seen the prices as low as $1000. The cameras are holding very good resale, as they are still a very nice semi-pro camera, and always will be. They are capable of creating super high quality pics for publication.
I know your current kit lens will probably not work with it, but there are lots of inexpensive EF lenses out there as well. My first lens was the EF 35-80, and cost me $65.
Mike, it's just a suggestion, you nay be itching to spend less on something brand new, and I don't blame you. My suggestion is strictly a utilitarian, photographic one.
Good luck, and again, welcome. ;-)
SS

Mike Price

You know I have had to work to get some pictures like friend so mine who have very expensive equipment. I think you are right about composition although I do not know that much but I like to try and get what I am actually seeing with my eyes. Man have I ever made some bad shots, but they are the ones that taught. It really was discouraging when I was very young using my film SLR.

There were time I thought I had a whole role of great shots and ended up throwing the whole role away. Now that did teach me some things but I have so much more to learn and that is why I joined the forum for the reading. Thanks for slowing me down. My 50mm lens has also reminded me of framing my picture and trying for a great shot.

I do love manual focus when I am working on something specific but auto focus has saved my wagon when things are moving fast trying to capture a picture like the bee in the perfect spot on that flower. I really think I will enjoy reading about how to really take good pictures. thanks :)

Mike Price

Good stuff SharpShooter. I am going to read and practice for little while longer before I make any moves and I don't have to have new stuff, all I need is stuff that gets the job done.

amehta Loc: Boston

I think the photographer, camera, and lens should be of comparable quality to get the most effective results. Since you want to upgrade yourself as a photographer, also upgrading/updating the camera makes sense, though the lens may need to follow as well.

The natural update is the Canon 70D, which is better simply by being newer by 9 years. It has a better sensor and AF system, as the two most obvious improvements.

The Canon line-up basically has 6 shelves:
1. Rebel SL1
2. Rebel T5i
3. 70D
4. 7D, 6D (full frame)
5. 5D Mark III
6. 1DX

The only camera on the list I wouldn't recommend is the 7D, because at 4+ years, it is very ready for a replacement. Your camera is already on the third shelf, so the question is whether you want an update, staying on the third shelf, or an upgrade, moving to a higher shelf?

Blenheim Orange Loc: Michigan

Absolutely.


Oh, yeah. Don't I know that.


Bingo.


Perfect.

I think those are great comments and you are well on your way.

Mike

Mike Price

Well, if I can muster in the near future$2,499.99 I can own a Canon - EOS 6D Digital SLR Camera with 24–105mm f/4L IS Lens - Black, but I am thinking I will have to take out a loan. Lots of time, maybe this fall after I have done a lot of research. Thank you all for the impute, I appreciate it. Mike :)

amehta Loc: Boston

The unsolicited input from my "financial planner" hat: please don't take out a loan, that changes the whole "is it worth it" discussion. Every camera/lens recommendation I and many others make here comes with the "in your budget" caveat, sometimes explicitly, otherwise implicitly. I think, for us amateurs, the differences between these cameras are not significant enough to justify going outside one's budget to the point of needing a loan. A pro can justify the loan as part of the business investment and finances, but that is an entirely different situation.

Swamp Gator Loc: Coastal South Carolina

Too bad you didn't ask about this last week, Beach Camera had the Canon 6D plus the 24-105mm f/4L Lens plus Adobe Lightroom 5 for $1949 with Free Shipping.
Deal is gone now.

Mike Price

WOW!! you are kidding!!!! I will keep my eyes open and since I know that it all could be had for under 2,000 I will not settle for any price above that. I will keep my eyes open for another one. Thanks for letting me know how much some are willing to sell it.